NB – With new head coach and 22 up from JV, figures to be transitional season for young Lions

Head coach Brent True and 22 of the players he coached with the junior varsity Lions last season make the step up to varsity Friday at 4 p.m. when the Lions host the Oromocto High School Blues in the New Brunswick High School Football League opener for both teams.
After four weeks of practice, True and his young Lions are ready to come out roaring.

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“They’re getting tired of hitting each other,” said the head coach and defensive co-ordinator of a Lions team which, while green in some areas, has some experience at key positions, which should give them a leg up while the rookies gain some experience.
It starts with third-year returning quarterback Derek Broad, a Southwest Conference all-star last season.
“He’s a leader on the field, a good decision maker, smart with the ball and athletic,” said True, listing off the attributes of his top signal-caller.
While the goal is balance between the pass and the run, and Broad has proven he can do both, the playbook will probably tilt toward the run early, with veteran Josh Campbell at tailback. Connor Sturgeon returns at fullback, with Ryan Cain, up from JV, also in the mix at fullback.
They’ll get adequate, and maybe even superior protection from an offensive line which features veteran Paul Sibley at offensive tackle.
“He’s probably the strongest lineman in Atlantic Canada,” said True. “He’s our anchor.”
Rookie Jacob Hanscomb, a 300-pound guard will be a force as well, predicts True. Third year starter Tony Kelly, still only in Grade 11, is the centre. Matt MacLean, up from JV, and Kyle Brewer, who has been away from football for a while after playing in the minor system, are the others who will buy Broad and friends time on offence.
Broad’s passing options are players new to the gridiron, but with good raw tools, including Josh Lafleur, primarily a basketball player but a youngster who has both height and hands.
“He’s tall, athletic and aggressive,” said True, salivating at the prospect. “If he develops the way he can and the way he has in the last few weeks, I think he’s going to be something special to watch. He’s got a great attitude, he’s aggressive, and he can jump.”
Sam Goucher, a volleyball/basketball player also taking the plunge into football for the first time, has shown well in camp, too, along with JV grad Jason Hearn, who was the JV quarterback last season and will be groomed as Broad’s replacement next season. Hearn will be a slotback/receiver and do the kicking.
Brady Paul anchors a three-man defensive line. The third-year Grade 12 starter leads what True hopes will be a stingy defence. Drew Lyons is the noseguard. with Grade 12 rookie Josh Cameron also on the D-line.
“He’s developed into a pretty solid defensive end in the last few weeks,” said True, who knows of what he speaks in that area, having played some pretty good defence in his own right in his high school and university career.
The linebacking crew includes veterans Nick Richardson and Nick Burden, both back from last year, and JV grads Isaac Pickell – on the radar screen with the national U17 rugby program and “a natural linebacker” on the gridiron, said True – and Colby Thomas, a tough, hard worker who can stop the run.
The defensive backfield includes JV grads Robert Howie and Dylan Cole, Jaden Rook and Dylan Whenham.
“We’ve got some key starters back, but I would say overall we’re a young team, a Grade 11 team,” said True. “We’ve got some good athletes and the guys on the team are football kids. At the end of the day, we look good against each other, but you’ve got to play other teams to really know where you’re at.”
True leads a coaching staff which is relatively new, too. Nathan Paul (running backs) and Dan Steeves (offensive line) are back from Rick Kelly’s coaching staff, but True brought his own people along: Vince Sturgeon as offensive co-ordinator, True in charge of the defensive line and special teams as well as overseeing the operation; Dan Gibson (receivers); Jared Currie (defensive line); Shawn Fraser (defensive backs); and Dustin Pond (linebackers), round out the staff.
“We’ve got some high expectations for them, but as for how it’s going to work out, I guess we’ll just wait and see,” said True, a teacher on staff at the school who sees a bigger picture.
“It’s not just about football,” he said. “It’s about getting them through high school and making sure they have the opportunity to go on somewhere else if they choose to do that.”
The Fredericton High School Black Kats open up on the road Friday, facing the Saint John High Greyhounds in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Shamrock Park.
While the Kats will be in their home city in Week 4 of the schedule when they face the Lions at Chapman Field, they aren’t the home team until North-South Bowl X, when they host the Lions at Chapman Field in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Oct. 8. Chapman, is in fact, the home site for both teams for every game except Friday’s opener at Leo Hayes.